Editor’s Note: This week, Peter takes stock of the cataclysmic events that took place in American politics last week, declaring a sense of relief and a fervent desire to look toward to a better future for our country. In On The Table, we take a look at yet another off-road monster concept from Stellantis, this time, a Jeep. Our video this week features the momentous 1970 12 Hours of Sebring. Our AE Song of the Week is “Send Lawyers, Guns and Money” by Warren Zevon. In Fumes, Peter presents Part IV of his series, “The Racers.” And finally, in The Line, we have F1 results from Brazil and MotoGP results from Qatar. Remember, you can read past issues by scrolling down and clicking on “Next 1 Entries.” Enjoy! -WG
By Peter M. DeLorenzo
Detroit.
Life, so they say
Is but a game and we let it slip awayLove, like the autumn sunShould be dyin’ but it’s only just begunLike the twilight in the road up aheadThey don’t see just where we’re goin’All the secrets in the UniverseWhisper in our earsAnd all the years will come and goTake us up, always up*
And so, after one of the most consequential weeks in our nation’s history is coming to a close, those words of Seals & Crofts are ringing in my ears. The American public, sick to death of Trump and his bootlicking and grifting minions, finally weighed in with its votes and delivered the most decisive rebuke of a sitting President in American political history.
I knew it was coming, hell, we all knew it was coming, but I must admit that I had no idea of the depth and breadth of the spanking that unfolded last week. It was, in a word, glorious. A tone-deaf grifter and convicted felon who has been operating unfettered with malicious glee, damn-near brought this country to its knees. And it could easily take a decade to repair the damage done to our nation, not to mention the damage done to our international nation-partners.
The U.S. auto industry in particular has taken a huge hit because of the totally nonsensical tariffs imposed by The Orange Asshole, but the damage wrought by the idiots in power is coursing through all corners of this country, and it’s disgusting.
I reserve particular ire for The Muskian Nightmare, who wrecked our functioning government with his “DOGE” initiatives, which destroyed so many parts of this country’s operating structure that it may never recover. But I’m also happy to report that the Biggest Loser by far last week – other than the mentally challenged occupant of the Oval Office – was none other than “St. Elon” himself. The Patron Saint of Malice Aforethought sought to “buy” the Texas election for that walking, talking embarrassment, Ken Paxton, and it blew up in his face.
And just to remind everyone, the number bandied about that was spent by the Unctuous Prick in Texas was $150 million, but that doesn’t cover the rest of the cash strewn about around the country by Musk, which some reports suggest approached $500 million. Yeah, I know, chump change, but he might as well have piled the cash beneath one of his rocket launches and incinerated it.
And don’t forget that Musk moved his “empire” to Texas in order to take advantage of a “sure thing” Trumpian “red” state so he could operate unimpeded. Well, guess what? The joke’s on him. That miserable excuse for a human is bound to get his comeuppance, big time.
But the most satisfying news to come out of Musk’s corroded and serially corrupt empire is that his vaunted “Cybertruck” has just been put out of its misery. Yes, that’s right, the rolling embarrassment that came to symbolize Musk (and Trump) incompetence has now died a horrible, public death. It will not be produced anymore. The Cybertruck was instantly ridiculed, despite Musk’s adoring acolytes saying it would eclipse the Ford F-150 as America’s bestselling truck. As if. Tesla sold just under 73,000 of them in three years, and even that number shocks me. To put that in perspective Ford sold that many F-150s last month.
A side note? The Cybertruck debacle also served to destroy the reputation of one of the industry’s foremost designers, Franz von Holzhausen. That this guy brought forth this motorized atrocity and unleashed it on the public is damn-near unforgivable and will remain a stain on his career forever.
Back to the beginning of this column. I thought of Seals & Crofts’ words because, yes, thankfully, we may never pass this way again. MAGA has been destroyed – and deservedly so – in one fell swoop (although we still have that loathsome Stephen Miller to contend with). Now it’s up to the people voted in to not only repair the damage but to set this country on the right course again. We don’t need retribution, we need positive contributions to this great nation again.
One more passage from Seals & Crofts:
Dreams, so they say, are for the foolsAnd they let ’em drift awayPeace, like the silent doveShould be flyin’ but it’s only just begunLike Columbus in the olden daysWe must gather all our courageSail our ships out on the open seaCast away our fearsAnd all the years will come and goAnd take us up, always upAnd that’s the High-Octane Truth for this week.
*“We May Never Pass This Way Again” by Seals & Crofts from the album “Diamond Girl.” Written by Darrell G. Crofts and Jimmy Seals. Publisher: Audiam, Inc. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind.
Editor’s Note: Click on “Next 1 Entries” at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. – WG